I finally got down to analyzing deals, working with a realtor, etc. but I’m having a hard time investing in an STR when I know the returns I get from investing in more product in my business is exponentially more and quicker turnaround.

Probably best to look elsewhere accordingly, as the availability of properly zoned STRs is quite limited.   

@Glen Michael we charge an onboarding fee to owners, which they ALWAYS complain about, but they don't want to undertand why it's so important.We use the funds to check:1) Ownership: we verify property is actually properly deeded to their name, LLC, etc. - We've found issues where owners was NOT on the deed and was scammed- We've also had to patiently explain to owners that since an LLC owned the property, that the management contract had to be in the LLC name and we needed proof they could sign for the LLC.2) Property Taxes: we make sure we know the status, to avoid tax foreclosure issues.- Took over several properties for an out-of-country owner last year that we're in the midst of tax foreclosure.

It wasn’t until he consulted with a tax advisor specializing in Section 1031 exchanges that he was able to properly navigate the process and save thousands.

I would really drill down on how and why it got to be so expensive, why they didn’t let you know before doing the work, and let them know you would have gone with the $9k bid had they communicated properly, then see if they will negotiate with you.

Take ownership of your mistake and learn to do the proper due diligence recommended above😊

Great tools that get updated regularly.I am on the lending side of things and would be happy to hop on a call with you anytime to discuss financial strategies and help answer any questions you may have about nearly any loan product available to help you on your journey, even if they are not products my capital partners offer.  

I would absolutely collect that from them if they were properly notified

Many advisors don’t understand the complexities of real estate investing, fail to provide tax strategies, and, unfortunately, some are more focused on selling products for commissions rather than offering real value.That said, not all financial advisors are the same.

Agreed with the above posts,  for $500 or less you can likely get a RE attorney  to get your ducks in a row to do the eviction properly.